What do you value the most in games?

[madhouse]

A simple question.

 

[Curratum]

1. Immersion through a combination of art direction, sound design and worldbuilding
2. Immersion through as little on-screen hud elements as possible
3. Tight controls

 

[madhouse]

1. Immersion through a combination of art direction, sound design and worldbuilding
2. Immersion through as little on-screen hud elements as possible

Kind of the same point really: not having a HUD stuck on your screen is part of the art direction. I liked that a lot about Metro 2033. I think it's especially relevant to FPS, and any first-person anything.
What games would you say have really good controls?

 

[Great Deceiver]

Gameplay

 

[Ol' Willy]

To crush your enemies. See them driven before you. And to hear the lamentations of their women.

 

[MadMaxHellfire]

fun. if i'm not having fun, i'd rather jerk off. so the game has either to engross me with mechanics or numbers*. lacking both, it's probably a movie or a phone skinner box.
*: rare instance, with comedy. but last two times i laughed it's been with "ben there, dan that" and previously "anachronox".

 

[Malamert]

Good and challenging gameplay.

 

[kangaxx]

Sneaking around, looting and levelling up in all kinds of different proportions. Exploring/adventuring/solving puzzles.

Also uncovering conspiracies or being deceived by the writers, as long as it's done well.

 

[Tehdagah]

Kill stuff

 

[Seigneur Locklear]

Good OST. I can tolerate the shittiest of games if they have a good OST.

 

[Machocruz]

Rape

Edit:
Agile characters, if action game

Team tactics

Survivalcraft shit.

 

[Melcar]

Killing stuff, loot and hot babes.

 

[Malamert]

Rape

A true man of culture. God bless you.

 

[MadMaxHellfire]

Rape

A true man of culture. God bless you.

but only if tasteful.

 

[Ivan]

heart

ultraviolence

 

[gurugeorge]

Flow state, immersion and catharsis.

Being absorbed and engaged with the game's systems (to the point of getting pencil and paper out ), feeling a strong sense of "being there" in the virtual world depicted in the game (and that includes everything from great art design and graphics, audio, fx, to engaging story and C&C), and the thrill of beating challenges and bashing heads, to the gratification of the bloodthirsty, atavistic beast inside.

When I get those three from a game, it's sublime, it's a new art form in the world.

It doesn't happen all that often, but when it does it's worth having plowed through the midden to find it.

 

[madhouse]

heart

Having heart is of paramount importance. One might have a mind, a strong intelligence, but without guts, a strong heart, one will never become anybody. You are incredibly wise.

 

[v1rus]

The feel that the gameplay produces.

 

[madhouse]

When earth is sundered, and skies choked black,
And sleepers serve the seven curses,
To the hearth there comes a stranger,
Journeyed far 'neah moon and star.


Though stark-born to sire uncertain,
His aspect marks his certain fate.
Wicked stalk him, righteous curse him.
Prophets speak, but all deny.


Many trials make manifest
The stranger's fate, the curses' bane.
Many touchstones try the stranger.
Many fall, but one remains.

Name a better prophecy in a video game.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

A game touched by human thought and passion.

Rare to find these days.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

Big titties

 

[Ocelot]

The worldbuilding, especially if said game is an RPG. A world that is sublime and feels like it doesn't exist solely for the game to take place in is very rewarding by itself.

 

[KK1001]

In rough order:
1. Cohesive vision. The more it feels like one person or a small, tight-knit group made something because they are passionate about it the better. The more a game conveys a sense of purpose, the better. The more a game feels tailor-made for a specific audience - whether that's me or not - the better.
2. Proper challenge curve. Game should increase in difficulty to account for synaptic adjustment and the learning of the player, so that a persistent - but slightly increasing - level of challenge is maintained.
3. Respect for my experience and my time. Any game that treats me like a retard or a child explicitly is going to have a bad time.
4. Sense of completeness. I don't want a bunch of extraneous bad bullshit, and I don't want to see or feel the holes. Games should be like a good script or puzzle.
5. Experimentation, evolution, change, but for the sake of the vision, not their own.
6. Confidence in said vision. You should be taking your reason WHY you made this game and pushing it forward as far as you can, even at the risk of breaking everything.
7. Making me feel ANYTHING other than just "hurrr fun" dopamine squirt shit.

 

[Dickie]

Big titties

Damn, that reminded me of this old ass JeffK comic.

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

General: Conan, what is best in RPGs?
Conan: To crush your enemies, explore their dungeons, and to see the glitter of their treasure.